Bedford Fire Dept. to Honor 9/11 Vicitims Saturday

Bedford fire officials are preparing for a memorial service to remember and honor those who died as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Manhattan's World Trade Center and the Pentagon nine years ago.

At 7 p.m. on Saturday, the fire department will gather at the Village Green to remember not only the local residents who lost their lives, but their comrades from other departments who died helping others that day.

""It's a chance to bring the community together to remember that day," said Joanne Aquilino, Bedford Village fire chief. "It's about remembering the victims and paying respect."

The service will include speakers from local churches and town officials and the laying of a commemmorative wreath.

"I am honored to participate in the Bedford Village Fire Department's annual commemoration of 9/11," said Supervisor Lee Roberts. "It is important that we pause and pay our respects to those who lost their lives on that terrible day.  We especially acknowledge our local residents; our friends and neighbors who perished in the attacks," she said.

The day provides an opportunity to reflect on ways the community can come together to honor the memory of those who were lost, said Roberts. Four local residents, who worked in the trade center, perished on 9/11: Thomas Burke, Richard Lynch, William Minardi and George Morrell.

Their lives are also honored in perpetuity at the Bedford Memorial Garden, a square path of flagstones connected by four trees, representing the four men, surrounding a stone marker inscribed with their names.

The Bedford Village Fire Deparment recently offered their services to honor the lives of two other firefighters who died in Tarrytown this week during a manhole accident.

Through John Marshall, battalion coordinator, they offered to help the Tarrytown department when it shut down to mourn the loss of firefighters John Kelly and Anthony Ruggiero.